(412) 693-6009

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Serving the Pittsburgh & the Surrounding Cities of Mt Lebanon, Harmarville, New Kensington, McKeesport, North Hills, Greensburg, South Hills, Monroeville, & Carnegie.

Are You a Caregiver, Even if You Don’t Call Yourself One?

Caregiver in Mt. Lebanon PA: Are You a Caregiver, Even if You Don’t Call Yourself One?

So many caregivers find themselves in a grey area long before they accept that they’re actually caregivers. They might eschew the title of officially being a loved one’s caregiver or they might avoid using the term. What could be behind that?

You Help out, But Only a Little

For some caregivers, they realize that they help out with a loved one, but it’s only now and then or only a little bit of help. That doesn’t make them a caregiver, right? The reality is that you pretty much are a caregiver if you’re helping someone even a little bit. And that’s okay. You don’t have to call yourself by a specific title in order to offer assistance to the people that you love.

It’s not a Burden to You

Still other caregivers feel as if the title implies that caregiving is a chore or a burden. If they don’t feel that burden, then they don’t need to adopt that title. It might also feel as if by accepting the title, that means that the caregiver now needs additional help, too. None of that has to be true, either.

It’s a Scary Title

Finally calling yourself a caregiver can be extremely scary. That one word can carry a lot of weight, even if it’s only in your own mind. Acknowledging that you’re someone who takes care of your loved one now becomes concrete and even more real than all of your actions do. This can be a frightening place, especially for new caregivers.

You Don’t Know What Caregiving Will Entail

For some people, the uncertainty of the future is what holds them back from committing to the title of “caregiver.” You don’t know what’s going to happen down the line and you’re officially claiming responsibility for someone else’s care and well-being when you call yourself that person’s caregiver. Even though it’s just a word, it can be a powerful word with a lot of meaning.

Accepting terminology doesn’t change who you are or what you’re doing for someone that you love. It might be easier to give up any connotations you associate with the word, though.

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregiver services in Mt. Lebanon, PA, please call and talk to the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Pittsburgh at (412) 693-6009. We will answer all of your questions.

Laura Partridge, the Business Development Manager for Star Multi Care Services has been with the company for over 12 years. Prior to her current role, she had served as the Administrator of the Pittsburgh branch, as well as holding positions within health systems in New York and Pennsylvania as a Nursing Home Administrator and Regional Director of Operations of Independent and Assisted Living facilities.Laura has earned her MBA in Health Care Administration from Canisius College, a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is currently a CPR/First Aid Instructor for the American Red Cross. Laura has sat on three Professional Advisory Committees throughout the community, has been on the Board of Directors for a non-profit nursing home, currently acts as an Advisory Board Member for the Allegheny County Respite Care Coalition, Gateway Health Plan, and the North Allegheny School District Elementary Advisory Council. She is also an active committee member of the Southwestern PA Partnership on Aging, Twilight Wish Foundation and Marshall Elementary Yearbook Committee.

Raising four active children with her husband Brian, she seems to spend more time on baseball and soccer fields than she does at home which helps her appreciate their family vacation time even more.

About the author: Laura Partridge

Laura Partridge, the Business Development Manager for Star Multi Care Services has been with the company for over 12 years. Prior to her current role, she had served as the Administrator of the Pittsburgh branch, as well as holding positions within health systems in New York and Pennsylvania as a Nursing Home Administrator and Regional Director of Operations of Independent and Assisted Living facilities.
Laura has earned her MBA in Health Care Administration from Canisius College, a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and is currently a CPR/First Aid Instructor for the American Red Cross. Laura has sat on three Professional Advisory Committees throughout the community, has been on the Board of Directors for a non-profit nursing home, currently acts as an Advisory Board Member for the Allegheny County Respite Care Coalition, Gateway Health Plan, and the North Allegheny School District Elementary Advisory Council. She is also an active committee member of the Southwestern PA Partnership on Aging, Twilight Wish Foundation and Marshall Elementary Yearbook Committee.
Raising four active children with her husband Brian, she seems to spend more time on baseball and soccer fields than she does at home which helps her appreciate their family vacation time even more.

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Extended Family Care strives for total satisfaction in all of our customer and business relationships. We believe patients and their families deserve the peace of mind that our compassionate caregivers provide each day. This means providing the very best in home health care services.
Part of the Star Multi Care Network